Annunciator



UNITED STATES CHARLES XV. HOLTZER, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,304, dated November25, 1890.

Application filed August 19, 1890. Serial No, 362,379. (No model.)

To all whom, t 11i/ay concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W'. HOLTZER, of Brookline, county ofNorfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inAnnunciators, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specication, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

My invention relates to an annunciator adapted for use in elevators andfor other purposes, the object of the invention being to simplify theconstruction of the annunciatorinstruments while increasing theirreliability and certainty of operation, to thereby produce asatisfactory instrument at low cost.

The invention is embodied in an instrument comprising an indicator ordrop which is normally retained in one position by a detent, one memberof which detent is connected with the said drop and the other member ofwhich is connected with or forms a part of an armature of anelectro-magnet, which when energized disengages said detent by theattraction of the armature and permits the drop to fall, such generalfeatures of construction and operation being common to annunciators nowin use.

The invention consists, mainly, in details of construction of theframe-work for supporting the magnet and armature and the drop in theproper relations to one another, the said parts being so arranged andconstructed that the detent, although easily operated by the magnet torelease the drop, holds firmly when engaged, so as not to beaccidentally released by the jar of the building or structure in whichthe annunciator is used, thus making the apparatus especially useful inelevators or in other places where the whole apparatus is exposed toconsiderable movement and jar. l

Figure l is a rear elevation of an annunciator containing twoindicating-instrnments embodying this invention and showing the workingparts of said instrument in end elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevationshowing the indicators, which are exposed to view in the use of theapparatus; Fig. 3 a side elevation of the annunciator shown in Figs. land 2; Fig. 4, a detail of the retractingspring for the armature; Fig.5, a plan view of the annunciator shown in Fig. 3; and Figs.

6 and 7, a side and front elevation, respectively, ofV an annunciatorhaving the same construction as shownjn the other figures, but

provided with a different kind of target or visual sign. v

The different instruments constituting one annunciator are supported ona frame-plate A, which forms the front of an inclosing case or boX (notshown) containing the Working devices, and in the constructionrepresented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 the indicators proper or visualsigns are arrows or pointers a, which normally remain in oneposition-as, for example, in the horizontal position represented in fulllines-and are turned to an inclined position, as shown in dotted linesat the upper part of Fig. 2, to indicate a call.

In some cases it is preferred to use a plate or tablet as the indicator,as represented at a2 in Figs. 6 and 7, said tablet being normallyretained in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 6, and dropped to theposition shown in dotted lines in said figure to indicate a call, theinclosing-case being provided with openings, through which the tablet isvisible when dropped to the'dotted-line position.

Vith either form of indicator a or a2 it will bel seen that anoscillating or pivotal movement carries the same from normal position tothe call-indicating position, and the apparatus for producing andcontrolling this rocking operation is identical with the two kinds ofindicators.

The working devices for controlling the movement are all connected witha vmain frame-plate b, which is preferably of iron, and 'is providedwith lugs b2 at right angles to the body of the plate, so that it may besecured to the frame-plate A, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 5, or the frame-plateA2, Figs. G and 7, in positions that are right angles to one another inrelation to the said frame-plate A or A2, in order to properly presentthe different kinds of indicators a and a2 to view. The said frameplateZ1 has rigidly connected with it, as by riveting, an iron rod c,constituting the core of the electro-magnet d, by which the armature iscaused to release the drop, and it also has rigidly connected with ittwo posts e e2, which support a second frame-plate f. The said posts ee2 are substantially parallel with the axis of the magnet d, and theframe-plates ICO b and f constitute the two members of the frame, one atthe rear and the other at the front of said magnet. The saidtrame-plates Z) and f are provided with pivot sockets or bearings at gfor a rockshaft 7L, which carries the indicator CL or a2, the indicatora being connected with the end of said rock-shaft, as shown, while theindicator d2 is connected with a lateral arm h2, extending` from saidshaft, said arm h2 being also employed in the construction shown inFigs. l, 3, and 5 to support a counter-weight t, the action of gravityon which tends to turn the indicator a from full to the dotted lineposition in Fig. 2. The said rock-shaft 71J is also provided with an armh3, which constitutes one member of the detent and also one member ofthe stop for limiting the movement of the rock-shaft when the detent isreleased, and said roekshaft h, with its arms 712 h3, is shown as cut orstamped froma single piece of sheet metal, thus enabling it to be madeat very moderate expense when the annunciators are manufactured inconsiderable quantities.

It will be observed that the rock-shaft h is parallel with the axis ofthe magnet, and the arrangement of the frame-plates b and f withrelation thereto aords a long space between the two pivotal bearings, sothat the said bearings may be fitted to work easily without permittingany great lateral movement of they arms h2 h3, thus providing for anaccurate adjustment of the detent member h3, so that it may be engagedanch held with great certainty by the other de tent member lo, which isthe end of the armature of the magnet d, the said armature being pivotedat k2 in lugs f2, formed in the frame-piece f. The said frame-piece f isalso formed from sheet metal cut and shaped by dies, and is providedwith all the parts necessary to afford the bearing for the rockshaft h,the bearing for the armature, and the back-stop to limit the retractivemovement of the armature lo to afford the proper engagement between saidarmature and the detent h3 of the indicator. The said backstops for thearmature consist of a projection f4, formed by cutting the frame-plate fbelow its points of connection with the posts e e2, said projections f4being readily bent by pliers or otherwise to such position as isnecessary to properly limit the retractive movement of the armature 7oto afford the proper engagement between said armature and the detent-armh3 of the indicator.

The armature-retractor consists of a threearmed plate of spring metal,(shown in Fig. 4,) two of the arms m of which are properly formed to besecured upon the ends of the posts e e2 under the frame-plate f, asshown, while the arm m2 extends out so as to bear with spring-pressureupon the magnet-armature above its pivot 7a2, thus tending to th row.the armature away from the pole of the magnet d. The pressure of saidspring is adj usted by a screwm, working in a threaded socket in theframe-plate f. The magnets d are normally in open circuit, the armaturesretracted, and the detent-arms 7b3 engaged by the ends of saidarmatures. NVhen one ot' the armatures is attracted, its end isdisengaged from the detent-arm h3, releasing said arm and permitting thedrop to fall, such falling movement of the drop being limited by theengagement of the end of the arm h3 with the arm f near its point ofconnection with the post e2, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6. After thedrops have fallen they may be restored by a slide-bar p, provided withprojections p2, standing beneath the arms h2, so that the upwardmovement of said slide-bar lifts any of the arms h2 that may havefallen, the detent-arm h3 in such movement passing along the back of thearmature k, which stands in an inclined position with relation thereto,as shown, thus moving the armature forward toward the Apole of themagnet until the detent-arm h3 has passed by the end of the armature,when the latter is thrown back by its retractingspring and again engageswith the detentarm and holds the same until again released by theattraction of the magnet.

By making the drop-carrying rock-shaft and its arms and the frame-piecef with the various connected parts of sheet metal, as shown,the saidparts are very inexpensive and capable of ready adjustment in puttingthe instruments together and retain said adjustment-permanently, and thedetent members are not likely to become displaced with relation to oneanother, so that they always remain securely in engagement withoutdanger of becoming disengaged by any jarring or shaking of theapparatus, or in any other way except by the direct pull of the magnet,and the instrument, although inexpensive, is thus very reliable inoperation, and not subject to the annoying defect of releasing theindicators when the corresponding magnets have not been energized.

I claiml. An annunciator comprising a main frame-plate andelectro-magnet connected therewith, a second frame-plate connected withthe first and provided with lugs constituting a pivot-bearing for thearmature of said magnet, and a stop for arresting the said armatureintegral with said frame-plate, a rock-shaft having its pivot-bearin gsin said plates, and having connected with it an indicator and adetent-arm forming an integral portion of said rock-shaft, and amagnet-armature pivoted in said lugs ot' the second frame-plateindependentlyof said rock-shaft and constituting the other member ofsaid detent, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the main frameplate and magnet-core fixed thereinsubstantially at right angles thereto, with a second frame-plateconnected with the main frameplate by posts and provided withpivot-bearings for the armature of said magnet, the re- IOO IOS

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framing-springs having arms secured to said In testimony whereof I havesigned my posts by said second frame-plate, and a-roekname to thisspeoioation in the presence of shaft carrying an indicator havingpivoted two subscribing, Witnesses.

bearings in said frame-plate and provided CHARLES W. HOLTZER. with adetent-arm co-opeiating with the ai'- 'Witnesses'. mature of Saidmagnet, substantially as de- C. E. BIBBER,

scribed. 1 Jos. P. LIvERMoRE.

